The battle for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title will go down to the final event after Australia defeated New Zealand with a golden-point victory to claim their first gold medal of the season in London.
History was made as HSBC Player of the Final Henry Paterson ran in a hat-trick of tries to lead the Aussie Sevens to their first Cup final victory over the All-Blacks Sevens in 20 years
Their victory came after Fiji took bronze, while the remaining title contenders South Africa and Argentina finished fifth and ninth respectively.That series of results saw the Blitzboks reclaim top spot in the standings with 124 points, two ahead of Australia on 122.Argentina are third with 118 points, while Fiji in fourth have 104 points.
This season, the best seven results will be used for the final Series standings, leaving the crown up for grabs ahead of the final event of the season in Los Angeles in August.
New Zealand issued a strong response after being knocked out at the Pool stage for the first time ever in Toulouse last weekend, reaching the final before narrowly losing 19-14 in extra-time.
Fiji’s bronze, which they claimed after a thrilling 31-26 win over Samoa, saw them medal for a fourth consecutive tournament.
But it was another disappointing day for South Africa, winners of the first four tournaments of the season, who blew a 17-point lead to lose to Australia in the quarter-finals on a weekend where they had a chance to wrap up the Series title if results went their way.
Paterson puts on a show
History wasn’t on Australia’s side ahead of the final, as they had not beaten New Zealand in a final for 20 years, and lost eight of 10 finals against their old rivals overall.
The deadlock was eventually broken with 30 seconds remaining of a cagey first half, when Paterson received a clever reverse pass to go under the posts.
New Zealand came out firing after the break, as Akuila Rokolisoa burst through two defenders to level things up, before Leroy Carter went over the whitewash to turn the game on its head.
But Paterson showed his class once more with his second try of the game and sixth of the weekend, gathering the ball at a standstill midway into his own half before showing the pace to go the distance.
Paterson was Australia’s hero once again when he made a superb try-saving tackle in the final play of regulation time, forcing Caleb Tangitau into touch to send the game into extra time.
The Australian finished off a virtuoso performance by darting into the corner to score the winning golden point try, leading to jubilant scenes as the Aussies Sevens players piled on top of each other to celebrate their first gold of the season.
Fiji bag bronze
Fiji came out on top in a thrilling battle for bronze against Samoa, running out 31-26 winners in a try fest to keep their Series title hopes alive with a fourth consecutive medal.
Paul Scanlan almost immediately put Samoa in front, but Fiji issued a strong response as Elia Canakaivata showed immense strength to bulldoze through two tackles and reach the line, before Napolioni Bolaca dotted down twice as the Flying Fijians put on a showcase of pace and power.
A wonderful round-the-corner offload sent Pilipo Bukayaro through for Fiji’s fourth try and his sixth of the weekend, but Jeremaia Matana’s yellow card offered the Samoans a route back into the game and they took advantage, as Vaa Apelu Maliku and Uaina Sione crossed to make it a five-point game.
Josua Vakurunabili was next to cross and extend Fiji’s lead once again, but Maliko raced onto a kick
in behind to score his second and reduce the deficit once more to set up a thrilling finale where Fiji did enough to hold on for victory.
All Blacks Sevens launch stunning comeback
New Zealand left high-flying Fiji stunned in the first semi-final, coming from 14 points behind to end their opponents’ 19-match winning run at Twickenham in dramatic fashion.
Fiji started strongly as Viwa Naduvalo crossed twice, either side of a score from in-form New Zealand flyer Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, and Waisea Nacuqu added a third before half time to leave the Pacific Islanders’ large support in delirium at a 19-5 lead.
But the Kiwis soon mustered a stirring comeback, sparked by Kitiona Vai’s try in the corner early in the second half.
Joe Webber then held off a tackle to offload to Dylan Collier and send him under the posts, narrowing the gap to two points, and the turnaround was complete when Akuila Rokolisoa caught out the Fijian defence by darting down the blindside from the back of a ruck to make it 22-19.
Fiji responded as Nacuqu powered over in the corner under two tackles, but a TMO review showed he lost control of the ball, and it was New Zealand who progressed to their 100th Series Cup final.
Australia stretched their winning run against Samoa to eight matches as they reached the final, running out 26-14 victors to continue their impressive record of never losing a London semi-final.
Series leading points scorer Dietrich Roache took his tally to 274 for the season with the opening try midway through the first half, before Matthew Gonzalez and Henry Paterson crossed to put the
Aussies Sevens 19-0 up by half time.
Uaiana Sione burst through a tackle to cross and get Samoa back in it, but Corey Toole showed fine football skills by chasing his own kick to gather and extend Australia’s lead, and Owen Fetu’s late try was too little too late for the Samoans.
